Razor-strop.



PATBNTED AUG. 22, 1905.

E. TOLMAN. RAZUR STROP.

APRI-09mm Plumv D90. 12, 1994.

UNITED sTATEs PATENT oEEioE. I

ELIJ AH TOLMAN, OF TAUNTON, MASSACHUSETTS, ASSIGNOR OF ON E-HALF TO GEORGE HALE BRABROOK, OF TAUNTON, MASSACHUSETTS.

RAZOR-STROP.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Aug. 22, 1905.

Application led December 12, 1904. Serial No. 236,437.

T0 all whom, it may concern.-

Be it known that I, ELIJAH ToLMAN, a citizen of the United States, residing at Taunton, in the county of Bristol, State of Massachusetts, have invented a certain new and useful Improvement in Razor-Strops, of which the following is a specification, reference being had therein to the accompanying drawings.

My invention has for its object to provide a razor-strop whieh shall produce the desired results quickly and conveniently, particularly when employed by inexperienced persons, and which shall be cheap to construct as well as possessing certain other advantages which will be pointed out in the course of this speciiication.

Heretofore the razor-strops employed by barbers have consisted of straps of various Inaterials suitable for the purpose, like leather or cloth which has been suitably treated. The straps have been held at one end in a clamp, which is attached to the wall or some other rigid support, while the other end is held in the hand, the proper tension being given by pulling upon the end of the particular strap in use. The successful use of a strop of this kind requires a skill acquired only by long experience. If the strop is held too loosely, the edge of the razor is rounded instead of being sharpened, while if held too rigidly the sharpening process takes place very slowly. It is also necessary in the use of a strop of this character that it be held flat and not allowed to curl lengthwise at all, or injury will be done to the razor. In spite of the skill required to use this kind of a strop it is well known that when properly used it gives excellent results and with a minimum of effort.

My invention has for its object to produce a razor-strop which shall be as near like the ordinary barbers strop as possible and which shall possess its advantages, but which shall be capable of successful use by inexperienced persons. It is also cheap and simple to construct. It is durable and may be made of the same abrading materials-such, for example, as leather or fabric-as are employed in the ordinary barbers strop heretofore referred to.

My invention will be fully understood from the following description, in which reference is made to the accompanying drawings, and in the claims at the close of this specification I have pointed out and clearly defined the novel features thereof.

In the drawings, Figure 1 is a view in perspective of my improved razor-strop. Fig. 2 is a plan view with one strap broken away to show more clearly the interior construction.

Referring to the drawings, 1 is a holder of wire or other suitable material capable of furnishing the required end support to the parts forming the razor-strop. rIhe holder l is provided with a swiveling ring 2, which may be placed upon a hook 4, set in the wall or other convenient fixed support. Attached to the inner bar 11 of the holder 1 by means of a folded metal piece 5 and rivets 6 (see Fig. 2) is a strip or backing 7 In place of the securing-piece 5 and rivets 6 the backing 7 may be attached to the bar 11 by any wellknown means, preferably such means as will permit the backing 7 to swing or pivot on the bar 11 and which will also permit the backing 7 to be detached or removed from the bar 11 should occasion require.` This strip or backing may be made of any suitable resilient material; but in practice I find that a thin iiexible strip of tough elastic wood is excellent and inexpensive. ness of the backing 7 depends upon the conditions under which the strop is to be used. I find it convenient to make it of substantially the width of the straps'9 and 10 of the strop for the greater -part of its length, but slightly narrowed at the hand end, as shown at 8, for a purpose to be later explained. The abrading portions of the strop consist of straps 9 and 10, fastened together at 115 and passing through the loop of the holder 1. These straps are united to form a handle l2, which is grasped by the user during the process of sharpening the razor. In the drawings I have shown the strop ,as composed of two straps 9 and 10, one of which in practice I make of horsehide or other suitable leather and the other of canvas. These straps may be suitably treated in any well-known manner to improve the surfaces'with which the razor comes in contact. Of course, as will be clear, the straps may be of other materials, if desired.

The backing 7 is placed between the two straps 9 and 10, as seen in Fig. l, it being attached to the holder 1 at one end and free at the other end, except for a small transverse strap 13, fast to the strap 10. The strap 13 is simply a latch of flexible material, as a thin strip of fabric braid or the like,l secured at The size` and thick'- each end to the strap 10. rIhe latch or strap 13 may, if desired, be secured to the strap 9 instead of to the strap 10. It serves to prevent displacement of the various parts. This latch 13 slides along the backing 7 slightly when the parts of the strop are stretched, and so does not interfere with the use of the full length of the strop.

When in use, the operator grasps the handle portion 12, stretches the straps the desired amount, and then strokes the razor on one side or the other, as is desired. The iiexible backing-strip 7 bends slightly under the pressure; but the amount of this bending is only partly dependent upon the tension under which the strop is placed. By making the backing-strip of the proper thickness the amount of the bending may be regulated, so that the novice will obtain excellent results by simply holding the strop in proper position and Without the application of any particular degree of tension.

It will be noted that the handle l2 is perfectly free and flexible, the said handle being in no Wise directly connected with the flexible backing 7 The strop has therefore all the characteristics of the Wholly flexible barbers strop of usual construction heretofore referred to, While at the same time possessing, by means of the flexible backing, characteristics in use which the old strop is given in use only by a skilled or experienced user.

It will be obvious that my invention is not limited to WhatI may term a double strop1wthat is, one having two abrading-surfaces differing in degreee-for example, as leather on one side and canvas on the other-'but may be embodied in what might be termed a single stropwthat is, one in which only one abrading-surface is presented, or, in'other Words, one in Which either one or the other of the straps I have designated 9 and 10 inthe drawings is omitted.

Throughout the preceding description I have for convenience used the Word strop to indicate a razor-sharpening device, While the Word strap I have applied to the parts designated 9 and 10, which, as hereinabove stated, may be of flexible material, as canvas or leather.

What I claim is- 1. A razor-strop comprising a strap of suitable material having an abrading-surface as leather, a flexible backing of resilient material therefor, and a suitable handle attached to the abrading-strap only.

2. A razor-strop comprising a holder,a strap of suitable material having an abrading-surface, a flexible backing of resilient material attached at one end to the said holder and independent of the said strap, and a handle attached to the said abrading-strap only.

3. A razor-strop comprising a holder,astrap of suitable material, havingan abrading-surface, a flexible backing of resilient material, a latch about the said flexible resilient backing, and a handle attached to the said abrading-strap only.

4. A razor-strop comprising a strap of suitable material having an abrading-surface, a flexible backing of resilient material, means for connecting one end of said strop to asupport and a handle attached to the other end of said strap independent of said backing.

5. A razor-strop comprising a strap of suitable material having an abrading-surface, a flexible backing of resilient material, a handle attached to one end of said strap independent of the said backing, the handle end of said strap being slidable with relation to said backing.

In testimony whereof I aliix my signature in presence of tvvo Witnesses.

ELIJAI-I TOLMAN.

Witnesses:

EDGAR H. BRIeGs, JOSEPH EVANS. 

